PORSCHE

​1955 Porsche against the Giants​2016 SOLD for $ 5.3M including premium

The increase of power of the racing cars in the first half of the 1950s seems inevitable and is indeed somewhat frightening when we consider in rear view the disasters at Le Mans and in the Mille Miglia.

Amidst the bolides by Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Maserati, Porsche has the merit of finding innovative solutions by promoting small cars with low displacement volumes in a brilliant technology that reaches the extreme limit of feasibility.

The 356 had opened to Porsche the market of the sports cars. The 550 Spyder is their first experience of a car designed for the race. From its first competition in 1953, this model with a 1.5 liter engine built its reputation as a killer of giants.

The 550 is a victim of its own success and many units were damaged. One of them, made in 1955, is in an exceptional condition close to a time capsule.

Its early history is not known. Discovered by an amateur in Massachusetts in the early 1960s within a lot of second hand cars, it has preserved up to now its original paint and upholstery, and of course kept also its matching number equipment. It is one of very few examples by which an amateur can still retrieve the pleasure of driving an authentic Porsche Spyder of the 1950s.

This wonder was only 16,000 km from new when it was acquired in 2007 by Jerry Seinfeld. The comedian, also known for his great enthusiast in driving old Porsche cars, respected and maintained its perfect condition, adding only 800 Km to its odometer. Now he chooses to part ways from it. This car is estimated $ 5M for sale by Gooding in Amelia Island on March 11, lot 034.

​1956 The Glamour of the Small Porsche​2016 SOLD for £ 4.6M including premium

When the spyder superseded the speedster, Porsche created the glamour car of the 1950s. Taking advantage of the complex classification of the endurance competitions, the German brand demonstrates the unprecedented effectiveness of its model 550 RS with its low displacement of 1,5 liters.

This small speedy car does not intimidate the wealthy individuals and perfectly meets the desires of the young 'rebel' Americans after the war. It is no coincidence that James Dean trades in 1955 his Porsche 356 speedster for a 550 spyder. Shortly afterward Chinetti will force Ferrari to create the California Spider targeting a similar clientele.

These small Porsche cars were pushed up to their limits by their owners eager for new sensations and new glamorous conquests. Such vehicles kept in their original condition are scarce and precious.

According to these criteria the 550 RS for sale by Bonhams at Goodwood on September 10 is considered as perfect in the press release issued by the auction house. Not enjoying the miracle of a time capsule, it was used by its owners but careful services have prevented any restoration.

This car made in 1956 is one of the last 550 before this model was replaced by the 550A. It was coachworked by Wendler as a two seater spyder. It is estimated £ 4.7M, lot 140.

The competition remained essential to promote such a product line. Another 550 also made in 1956 and coachworked in single seater was sold for $ 3.75M before fees by Mecum on August 17, 2013.

​1958 A Spyder in a Grand Prix​2018 SOLD for $ 5.2M including premium

A Porsche 550A Spyder with a racing history in period in Le Mans, Nürburgring and more daringly in the Dutch Grand Prix passed at Gooding on August 20, 2016. It had been introduced in a video. It is now estimated $ 4.5M for sale by Bonhams in Scottsdale on January 18, lot 44. I discussed it as follows in 2016.

Since the 1950s Porsche achieved success in competition with cars which are decidedly different from their competitors, provoking from some drivers a great loyalty to the brand. From 1957 until his death in 1964, Carel De Beaufort almost only used Porsche cars.

Released in 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder is efficient and agile with its flat four 1.5 liter engine. Porsche had made a good choice because this category of small volumes is undisturbed by the changes in the rules that follow the 1955 disaster at Le Mans.

Continuous improvement is a must for competition. In 1956 the 550A Spyder gets a lighter and more rigid frame, with a weight distribution carefully redesigned to improve the stability. It has a reputation of being very pleasant to drive.

Forty 550A are built. The last but one is sold in April 1958 to De Beaufort who uses it in competition in that year. In May De Beaufort dares to engage his little spyder in the Dutch Grand Prix of Formula One at Zandvoort. He finishes in last position six laps behind the winner. Meanwhile Porsche had developed the 718 that De Beaufort will now more logically use in Formula One.

​1960 Small Engines for High Ambitions2015 SOLD for $ 5.4M including premium

Porsche tried to compete with the Ferrari 250 with cars developing lower volumes, ready to win the competitions in their category and able to threaten the more powerful in endurance racing.

The Type 547 engine with four cams fitted to the Porsche 718 was a wonder in terms of design but it was very complex and difficult to assemble, and despite some good results the sporting records of Porsche were often limited by mechanical problems during the races.

The ultimate evolution of the Porsche 718 was made mandatory by a change in racing regulations. The RS 60 of 1960, continued without modification in 1961 as the RS 61, provides an increased volume in excess of the previous 1.5 liters and a lengthened chassis to improve the comfort in the cockpit.

To offset this handicap, Porsche is studying the aerodynamics. The RS 60 and 61 have a very low Spyder body, even closer to the ground through the small diameter of the wheels. The suspension and brakes have also been reworked to improve the handling on the road.

Stirling Moss loved this model which he drove in the Targa Florio in 1961. He acquired a unit for his last professional outing at Le Mans in 2011, aged 81. His RS 61 was sold for £ 1.9 million including premium by Bonhams on June 26, 2015.

A few Spyders was specially built for the official drivers of the brand. A works racing RS 60 is estimated $ 5.5M, for sale by Gooding in Pebble Beach on August 16, lot 143. Here is the link to the press release.

​1970 The Preferred Car of Jo Siffert​2017 SOLD for $ 14M including premium

Porsche had never won the 24 hours of Le Mans. A change in regulations announced after the 1968 season by the ACO for the two classes 3 liters and 5 liters is seized as an opportunity. Porsche creates in parallel the models 908 and 917.

The rule for the 5 liter homologation requires that the model is produced in 25 identical units. Porsche's motivation is so intense that they line up their twenty-five 917 in the yard of the factory as early as April 1969. Success is still questionable because the 917 is very difficult to drive. None of them finished the 24 hours of Le Mans 1969 and a driver died during that race.

Porsche immediately conceived the necessary improvements, resulting in two variants of the chassis for each of the two models : K for Kurz Heck and LH for Lang Heck. The short variant is faster in top speed but less stable. Many drivers will prefer the LH.

On August 18 at Pebble Beach, Gooding sells a historically important 917K, lot 44 estimated $ 13M. Here is the link to the press release.

This car assembled in 1970 was immediately entered in the training and test sessions at Le Mans, Nürburgring and Ehra-Lessien in April and May, demonstrating the exceptional speed achieved by the 917K model.

It is purchased in June 1970 by Jo Siffert who does not use it in competition but leases it for the preparation of the film Le Mans. It is one of three 917K starring in this movie for which they also served as camera cars for shooting at full speed. This 917K was Siffert's favorite car and led his funeral procession in October 1971.

The car was found 30 years later in a Parisian suburb, covered with dust but untouched except for the absence of the engine. The next owner bought an original engine from the same series. The complete restoration was supervised by a former Porsche engineer who still had access to the factory archives of the 917 program.

​1972 The Winning Porsche of the Can-Am2012 SOLD 5.8 M$ including premium

In the early 1970s, the cars competing in endurance racing change their look and increase their speed. The development of the Porsche 917 in Spyder bodywork is a great success, both in terms of engineering and sport.

And indeed the car for sale in Montereyon August 18 by Mecum had won the best track record of the Porsche 917 model.

In 1972, Porsche subcontracted to Penske Racing the participation in the competitions. Their goal to dominate the prestigious series of events known as the Can-Am (Canadian American Challenge Cup) met a total success.

Driven alternately by the two Penske drivers, George Follmer and Mark Donohue, this serial number 917/10-003 actually won in 1972 no fewer than five of nine races counted for the Can-Am.

Porsche engineers could do better, and they did. Prepared in 1973, the Porsche 917/30 Spyder was later elected by a committee of experts as the greatest racing car of all time. One of the four cars of this model was sold $ 4.4 million including premium by Gooding on March 9, 2012.

I wrote at that time that the overwhelming success of the Porsche 917 had killed the suspense in the Can-Am events. This is not the only reason for the ephemeral career of the 917: the oil crisis also forced the organizers of car racings to cut the costs.

I invite you to play the video introducing the 917/10-003, shared on YouTube by Mecum.

POST SALE COMMENT

Top collectors are finally starting to pay attention to these remarkable cars of the early 1970s, just before the oil crisis. The exceptional prestige of this unit pushed it up to $ 5.5 million, hammer price.

1973 The Porsche 917/30 Spyder2012 SOLD for $ 4.4 M including premium​2016 SOLD for $ 3M including premium

PRE 2016 SALE DISCUSSION

Porsche dominated the Can-Am in 1972 with the 917/10. Its engineers did even better in 1973 : the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder is commonly regarded as the best racing car of all time. Its participation to competition was provided by the drivers of the Penske team including Mark Donohue.

With its 5.4-liter engine, 917/30 has an unsurpassed power. Compared to the 917/10, its aerodynamics is improved and a clever system of temporary acceleration raising up to 1500 bph enables to instantly leave any competitor behind.

This ultimate model of motor racing is indeed extremely rare despite its dominant performance : only six chassis were built.

001 is a prototype that had ensured the transition from 917/10 to 917/30. All feats in competition including the speed record of 355 km/h in closed circuit were achieved either by 002 or (mostly) by 003. Both are currently owned by Porsche although 002 was badly damaged in a crash at Watkins Glen.

004 was originally intended for the Penske team but the uninterrupted performance of 002 and 003 did not appeal for a spare unit. No longer needed in 1974 due to the fuel limitation imposed from the oil crisis, it is bought, admired and exhibited by the Porsche importer in Australia without entering a race.

005 and 006 have been much later assembled with smaller engines, 5 and 4.5 liters respectively.

Carefully maintained by its successive collectors and repainted in the livery of Sunoco which had been the main sponsor of the Penske team, 004 was sold for $ 4.4 million including premium by Gooding on March 9, 2012. I had discussed it in this column at that time. Coming now from the collection of Jerry Seinfeld, it is estimated $ 5M for sale by Gooding in Amelia Island on March 11, lot 044. Here is the link to the press release announcing the collection.

1979 Paul Newman in the Rain​2016 SOLD for $ 4.8M including premium

In 1979, the 24 Hours of Le Mans are dominated by cars built by Porsche, driven under the banner of private teams. 19 of the 55 starting cars are Porsche, spreading between the models 934, 935 and 936. The brand occupies the first 4 final positions.

This achievement rewards the effort made by Porsche to meet the complicated rules of the FIA requiring that competition cars of Groups 1 to 5 are based on production models with a minimum quantity. The Porsche 934 matches the Group 4 (special grand touring), the 935 is for Group 5 (sports) and the 936 for Group 6 (prototype). Each year brings further variations to these models.

In heavy rain, Le Mans 1979 is not spectacular in a sporting point of view. Prototypes gradually disappear from race lead after the first hours. The final winner is a Porsche 935 improved by Kremer Racing.

Fortunately, Paul Newman draws the crowd. The actor aged 54 participates for the first time at Le Mans. The Porsche 935 Type 77A driven by Stommelen, Newman and Barbour finishes in the second position.

This is a feat for Newman but also for that new car in its competition debut. Until 1987, it will be extensively raced. It went first overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1981 and at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1983.

This Porsche 935 with a prestigious history is estimated $ 4.5M for sale by Gooding in Pebble Beach on August 20, lot 060. Here is the link to the press release (shared with other Porsche vehicles).

​1982 Porsche, Champion of Endurance Racing2015 SOLD for $ 10.1M including premium

The FIA ​​never has an easy task. Its categories and its racing regulations are a continual compromise, ever changing, with a concern for safety while reducing the fuel consumption and maintaining appealing sport features for the public.

The creation of the Group C, scheduled in 1981 and released in 1982, marks a return of prototype racing to its highest prestige. Porsche is very enthusiastic.

The effort of the engineers focuses on innovations of chassis and bodywork. Despite a similar engine to that of the 936, the Porsche 956 perfectly meets the intent of the FIA ​​to promote a modernized range of vehicles.

The model 956 along with its further evolution as the 962 is so far ahead of its competitors that Porsche completely dominates the World Endurance Championship for five consecutive years.

Porsche designed the 956 for their own prestige. Ten cars are prepared for the official drivers of the brand and are sponsored by the Rothmans cigarette company. Twelve other units are made for private teams.

First races, first triumphs: in May 1982, the 956-001 wins the 6 hours of Silverstone. A month later, the model 956 takes the first three places at Le Mans.

Second at Le Mans in 1982, the 956-003 won its last four races of that year. Its victory at Le Mans in 1983 will be the greatest feat of its prestigious career. Appreciating a few minutes before the end of the 24 hours that the engine is going to expire, Al Holbert manages to keep a short lead ahead of another 956 driven by Derek Bell. It is interesting to note that the 956 cars got the top eight positions in that race.

956-003 is estimated $ 7M for sale by Gooding in Pebble Beach on August 15, lot 050. Here is the link to the press release.

1998 A Porsche Supercar in the Street​2017 SOLD for $ 5.7M including premium

The FIA ​​GT championship preceded by the short lived BPR Global GT Series throws on the track in the mid-1990s the precursors of today's supercars. These wonders are the McLaren F1 GTR, the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, the Ferrari F40 and the Porsche 911 GT1.

Anticipating some flexibility in the approval rules of the GT competition cars including the demonstration that their models are based on commercial vehicles, Porsche designs directly the 911 GT1 for racing.

The technology restarts in a fast development generating very small series of vehicles with similar designations but increasing performances. The Porsche 911 GT1-98 won the first two places at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1998.

Porsche does not forget however that some customers expect high-performance cars. Such a project is useful to the prestige of the brand even if the profitability is lost in advance. After two prototypes required in 1996 for road homologation, Porsche realizes the 911 GT1 Strassenversion in 20 units which are sold to customers selected in advance by the brand.

This road legal model created high desires by its limited series, by its very high performance worthy of a winner of Le Mans and by the fact that it has never been offered new on the open market. A Strassenversion made in 1998 with less than 5,000 miles from new is for sale on March 10 by Gooding at Amelia Island, lot 042. Here is the link to the press release.

Its price is difficult to anticipate. A 1997 911 GT1 Evo competition car was sold for € 2,8M including premium by RM Sotheby's on May 14, 2016. Also keep in mind the $ 8.5M including premium recorded on August 17, 2013 by Gooding on a 1997 road legal McLaren F1 with less than 14,000 miles from new.